The Prime Minister may announce a mini reshuffle of his Cabinet as soon as by the end of today (February 7).
It comes after Rishi Sunak sacked former Tory chair Nadhim Zahawi last week due to the latter's tax affairs. While a full reshuffle is not reportedly expected, Mr Sunak could use the opportunity to overhaul his government.
A report by The Times newspaper which cited government sources stated that a government shake-up is possible with Mr Sunak potentially looking at breaking up the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy into separate ministries. It would follow his Tory leadership contest pledge to recreate a standalone energy department.
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During his campaign to become the next Tory leader, Mr Sunak said he wanted a new secretary of state role overseeing and delivering "energy sovereignty".
Meanwhile, The Sun reported that business and trade could be used together with a new science and digital department being recreated. Such a move would inevitably change the makeup of the Cabinet, affecting the future of Business Secretary Grant Shapps and International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to survive the reshuffle, with Mr Sunak indicating that he would wait for the outcome of the investigation against the former into bullying allegations, all of which he has denied being a part of. It is not yet clear who will succeed Mr Zahawi, however, it is believed that Mr Shapps, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, and trade minister Greg Hands are all in the running.
Andrew Griffiths, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, would not comment on reports that a mini-reshuffle will take place today. Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "If the Prime Minister has got something to say on how to reorganise government then we’ll have to wait and see that."
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